Sharjeel Memon released after brief detention upon return to country

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s party (PPP) leader Sharjeel Inam Memon was arrested after landing at Islamabad airport on Saturday night, but released shortly after he produced bail documents to the law enforcement authorities, ARY News reported.

Memon was arrested at the Islamabad airport by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on charges of corruption.

The former information minister Sindh had arrived from Dubai to Islamabad, and NAB officials had already cognizant of his arrival, hence they arrested the PPP leader moments after he landed at the airport.

The NAB in October 2016 filed before the accountability court a reference against Memon for committing corruption in the award of advertisements of provincial government’s awareness campaigns in electronic media involving over Rs5 billion.

It was alleged that Sharjeel Memon issued contracts to favourite advertising agencies at exorbitant rates even without confirming the market rates.

Memon was out of country for more than 16 months and didn’t return the country at any point during the said period.

Sources informed that the PPP leader will address an important press conference today.

In January this year, an accountability court had reissued non-bailable arrest warrants of Memon. The counsel for Memon had informed the court that his client was not in good health and would be presented soon.